Sparham Pools
Joint WVBS / Narvos Field Trip to Sparham Pools Saturday 7th Feb 2004
Leader: Alwyn Jackson
18 members from WVBS and Narvos met in the car park at Sparham Pools on a bright but very windy morning. Alwyn gave a brief history of the reserve before setting off around the southern edge, along the river and back by the northern edge. Normally we are restricted to the periphery of the lake but the owner, Charles Sayer ( a keen birder) had given us permission to go over his adjoining land.
Greylag Goose, Coot, Great crested Grebe, Mute Swan and Cormorant were soon seen as were Goosander, for which Sparham is well known, and we eventually had a maximum count of 12. But the passerines (small perching birds) were keeping their heads down in the gale. Starling, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Robin and Wren were evident but the usually present Marsh Tit and Treecreeper managed to totally elude us. A Grey Wagtail, which nests on the nearby mill, foraged around the edge of a new pit and possibly the same bird was seen again on the edge of another pit. Pochard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Teal and Wigeon were seen by all, but the highlight was a female Scaup which is a rare winter visitor to the valley. As we squelched along the flooded river bank 3 Common Snipe were put up.
In total 39 species were seen including the 5 common gulls plus Egyptian Goose, Skylark and Goldfinch.
Everyone enjoyed the morning and Alwyn did well to find as many birds on a very challenging day. His timing was also good as it poured down not long after we’d finished.
Thankyou to all who attended, and Alwyn for leading it.
Ray